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Bane of All Things
Book 1 of the #epicfantasy series, A Silence of Worlds.
"When conscience clashes with loyalty, and faith with truth, even an outcast can bring the world to its knees.”
In the Four Kingdoms, the Holy Clerisy preaches that the gods are dead, and prayer is the path to Hell. Anyone who defies doctrine is punished for heresy. But blind faith can damn a soul as surely as betrayal.
Ryn Ruscroft, once sworn to serve as the Clerisy’s loyal soldier, finds himself torn between conscience and duty one bitter winter’s night. Those slain include his best friend, felled by his own hand.
Josalind Aumbrae has been tormented all her life by the Voices and their visions—an affliction that could have her facing a witch’s pyre. If only she could understand what they want.
Banished to Dragon’s Claw Abbey at the edge of the world, Ryn and Josalind discover a place built on more than penance and forgetting. What they find at the Claw will turn them into fugitives hunted by hellspawn, heretics, and Ryn’s former commander.
But more sinister forces have awoken—ancient things eager to settle old scores and find pawns among the outcast. When they cry for vengeance, the Living Sword must have a hand to wield it. A mortal it can reshape into the Earth Breaker, the Soul Taker, the Bane of All Things.
"When conscience clashes with loyalty, and faith with truth, even an outcast can bring the world to its knees.”
In the Four Kingdoms, the Holy Clerisy preaches that the gods are dead, and prayer is the path to Hell. Anyone who defies doctrine is punished for heresy. But blind faith can damn a soul as surely as betrayal.
Ryn Ruscroft, once sworn to serve as the Clerisy’s loyal soldier, finds himself torn between conscience and duty one bitter winter’s night. Those slain include his best friend, felled by his own hand.
Josalind Aumbrae has been tormented all her life by the Voices and their visions—an affliction that could have her facing a witch’s pyre. If only she could understand what they want.
Banished to Dragon’s Claw Abbey at the edge of the world, Ryn and Josalind discover a place built on more than penance and forgetting. What they find at the Claw will turn them into fugitives hunted by hellspawn, heretics, and Ryn’s former commander.
But more sinister forces have awoken—ancient things eager to settle old scores and find pawns among the outcast. When they cry for vengeance, the Living Sword must have a hand to wield it. A mortal it can reshape into the Earth Breaker, the Soul Taker, the Bane of All Things.
450 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 7, 2021
5 people are currently reading
3402 people want to read
About the author
Leo Valiquette
1 book31 followersLeo Valiquette (pronounced "valli-ket") grew up in Eastern Ontario, Canada, but had become a regular tourist of Tatooine, Middle Earth, and that barn in Charlotte’s Web by the age of eight. He first trained to work in museums before taking up the pen as a journalist, newspaper editor, and then corporate business writer. This love of the fantastical and the historical, as well as finding the root of a story, fuel his need to create worlds of his own.
His mother made that introduction to Star Wars and E.B. White, while his Grade 3 teacher revealed the Shire and Middle Earth a year later. The course was pretty much set after that. Valiquette has several novel projects on the board. His first to be published is a gritty epic fantasy titled Bane of All Things—BoAT for short—which is available now.
Valiquette lives in a different part of Eastern Ontario these days, under the apple trees by the banks of a lazy old river. The tireless support of his wife, Natalie, keeps him chasing the dream of becoming a career author, while his autistic son William everyday teaches him the virtues of kindness and empathy.
A cancer survivor, Valiquette has been contesting with metastasized melanoma since late 2019.
His mother made that introduction to Star Wars and E.B. White, while his Grade 3 teacher revealed the Shire and Middle Earth a year later. The course was pretty much set after that. Valiquette has several novel projects on the board. His first to be published is a gritty epic fantasy titled Bane of All Things—BoAT for short—which is available now.
Valiquette lives in a different part of Eastern Ontario these days, under the apple trees by the banks of a lazy old river. The tireless support of his wife, Natalie, keeps him chasing the dream of becoming a career author, while his autistic son William everyday teaches him the virtues of kindness and empathy.
A cancer survivor, Valiquette has been contesting with metastasized melanoma since late 2019.
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Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews
July 16, 2021
3,5 stars for this debut effort. I knew nothing about this book or its author and I wasn't sure what to expect. What I got was a very enjoyable book that didn't try something new in fantasy, but it was well executed.
What I didn't like:
- I felt that the book could be trimmed down some pages. Some back and forth between the characters felt a bit repetitive and it hurt the pacing of the book
- The story would benefit immensely from some extra humour. Only one character has some witty lines, but those are very rare and as a result the "fun factor" of the story took a hit.
- Some info dump in the form of small chapters with the voice of a fortuneteller, didn't feel organic and they mostly confused me.
What I liked:
- The story gripped me and it is well written. Especially for a debut effort!
- The characters are relatable (even though some more background info would be appreciated) and especially the female characters are the most interesting and best written ones.
- The world is rich and full of nicely described creatures that we get to meet during the story.
- The action, though not of epic porportions, is handled very well and is one of the strong points of this book.
- Finishing this book I am completely sold on reading the sequel and that's the most important thing for a forst book in a series.
I could have rated it 4 stars if I was judging it simply as debut novel, but I'm sure that mr Valiquette has even better things in store for the readers in his next books.
Thanks to Netgalley and Inkshares for providing me an ARC for this book.
What I didn't like:
- I felt that the book could be trimmed down some pages. Some back and forth between the characters felt a bit repetitive and it hurt the pacing of the book
- The story would benefit immensely from some extra humour. Only one character has some witty lines, but those are very rare and as a result the "fun factor" of the story took a hit.
- Some info dump in the form of small chapters with the voice of a fortuneteller, didn't feel organic and they mostly confused me.
What I liked:
- The story gripped me and it is well written. Especially for a debut effort!
- The characters are relatable (even though some more background info would be appreciated) and especially the female characters are the most interesting and best written ones.
- The world is rich and full of nicely described creatures that we get to meet during the story.
- The action, though not of epic porportions, is handled very well and is one of the strong points of this book.
- Finishing this book I am completely sold on reading the sequel and that's the most important thing for a forst book in a series.
I could have rated it 4 stars if I was judging it simply as debut novel, but I'm sure that mr Valiquette has even better things in store for the readers in his next books.
Thanks to Netgalley and Inkshares for providing me an ARC for this book.
January 12, 2022
Bane of all Things is the first novel by author Leo Valiquette and he has fashioned a page-turner of an epic fantasy story.
This is my first reading of any fantasy novel and Leo has created a world and characters that immediately grabbed my attention.
The detail Leo has created is mind numbing and fascinating. His skill as a journalist and editor clearly helped him tell the story of monsters, demons and strange animals that populate a world alongside regular folks At the core of the story is a long-dead ancient demon of terrible destructive power and its followers want to enable a re-birth. The hero, Ryn Ruscroft, is a soldier who is reluctantly dragged into a campaign to ensure that the demon remains dead and that demands great sacrifice on his part.
Leo provides a glossary, a veritable who’s who of this world plus a map to show the lay of the land and seas. You may find it handy to keep track of everyone. I thought I might need it but it turns out that Leo does a great job of helping you understand where each new character or location fits into the story. His creativity and wealth of detail about this fantasy land fired up my brain to create my own images of exactly what I thought things look like.
For me, a great story combined with the images in my mind’s eye makes for a compelling read.
I would join with Ryn, who likes to say, “Gods be damned!” - you should take the plunge into this world and enjoy a great piece of story telling.
Paul Brent
Journalist for 40 years, now retired.
This is my first reading of any fantasy novel and Leo has created a world and characters that immediately grabbed my attention.
The detail Leo has created is mind numbing and fascinating. His skill as a journalist and editor clearly helped him tell the story of monsters, demons and strange animals that populate a world alongside regular folks At the core of the story is a long-dead ancient demon of terrible destructive power and its followers want to enable a re-birth. The hero, Ryn Ruscroft, is a soldier who is reluctantly dragged into a campaign to ensure that the demon remains dead and that demands great sacrifice on his part.
Leo provides a glossary, a veritable who’s who of this world plus a map to show the lay of the land and seas. You may find it handy to keep track of everyone. I thought I might need it but it turns out that Leo does a great job of helping you understand where each new character or location fits into the story. His creativity and wealth of detail about this fantasy land fired up my brain to create my own images of exactly what I thought things look like.
For me, a great story combined with the images in my mind’s eye makes for a compelling read.
I would join with Ryn, who likes to say, “Gods be damned!” - you should take the plunge into this world and enjoy a great piece of story telling.
Paul Brent
Journalist for 40 years, now retired.
August 2, 2021
(Received an eARC from Netgalley. Thanks to the author and the publisher. The review is truth no lie you believe okkk)
To begin with, as you do, as I am, I have discovered that with age (still young tho, haven't even gotten a single white hair yet.) I am becoming a choosy reader.
Now to truly begin with, the first 30 percent of this book are really good.
Immediately the author manages to make me care about our MC. Make me intrigued about his past, and wonder what will happen next. I turned those pages like there was no tomorrow.
Josalind was a good character as well. While her mysterious circumstances were really compelling, I was more attached to Ryn.
Then the author started veering off from the path.
Passages of prose were getting to long with no hook in them. Motivations weren't sticking me to the page anymore. The book started to meander. I lost interest just before the Claw is attacked by Kara and Horgrim.
Finally a call to action. I was excited again.
Uh... Noh.
We're back to meandering again. Back to the occasional infodumps. At this point, I started to realise out of all these characters, none were truly in danger.
I happen to remember three events that can be easily characterised as Deus ex machinas. Or maybe even Gandalf's eagles.
Another thing I'd like to note here is that the book absolutely deserved a more... Heavy-handed editor. There were some parts where a more ruthless mind could've smoothed the pages better.
In terms of worldbuilding... We had lots. And mostly it was done well. Sure fantasy can't stay away from the occasional infodumps, but most were done well and did not jar me. I wondered about the world at large, imagined places mentioned and things described. So great job there.
Overall, the author has this handled well, with the exception that he truly needs his editor to be more tough with him, because there were even chapters where I was urged to skip, and could barely hold back.
Good book. (With complications.)
To begin with, as you do, as I am, I have discovered that with age (still young tho, haven't even gotten a single white hair yet.) I am becoming a choosy reader.
Now to truly begin with, the first 30 percent of this book are really good.
Immediately the author manages to make me care about our MC. Make me intrigued about his past, and wonder what will happen next. I turned those pages like there was no tomorrow.
Josalind was a good character as well. While her mysterious circumstances were really compelling, I was more attached to Ryn.
Then the author started veering off from the path.
Passages of prose were getting to long with no hook in them. Motivations weren't sticking me to the page anymore. The book started to meander. I lost interest just before the Claw is attacked by Kara and Horgrim.
Finally a call to action. I was excited again.
Uh... Noh.
We're back to meandering again. Back to the occasional infodumps. At this point, I started to realise out of all these characters, none were truly in danger.
I happen to remember three events that can be easily characterised as Deus ex machinas. Or maybe even Gandalf's eagles.
Another thing I'd like to note here is that the book absolutely deserved a more... Heavy-handed editor. There were some parts where a more ruthless mind could've smoothed the pages better.
In terms of worldbuilding... We had lots. And mostly it was done well. Sure fantasy can't stay away from the occasional infodumps, but most were done well and did not jar me. I wondered about the world at large, imagined places mentioned and things described. So great job there.
Overall, the author has this handled well, with the exception that he truly needs his editor to be more tough with him, because there were even chapters where I was urged to skip, and could barely hold back.
Good book. (With complications.)
July 8, 2021
A rich and compelling fantasy! Simultaneously cosmic and intimate, intricate and accessible, flavored with tradition and fresh with originality.
February 21, 2022
Didn't read anything about what this was about but just was curious I guess to find out. I think this one my favorite books that I have read this year. I feel quite happy after finishing this one. It's not perfect but I think it was damn good. I liked the characters and didn't feel annoyed by them which is good because I usually find character that are rather annoying. I think you learn most about Ryn. The others hopefully will be featured more in the upcoming books to this series. The magic system you a learn little about but doesn't overwhelm you with facts about how everything works. Not the most interesting system though and no other system mentioned except getting power from the gods. Don't know if the Earthborn have any magic but maybe learn more about them later hopefully. There is some depth to this story that will have me thinking about it for awhile with how the author deals with faith and morality with his characters. This was a really good start to a series that I want to see how it develops in the upcoming books. Rather happy that I tried this book and hope the next one doesn't take to long to be done.
Thanks to the author and his publishers for putting out another good book. Rating of 4 to 4 and half stars for me.
Thanks to netgalley as always.
Thanks to the author and his publishers for putting out another good book. Rating of 4 to 4 and half stars for me.
Thanks to netgalley as always.
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March 23, 2022Bane of All Things
Howdy. So, yes, this is one of those “Reviews from the Author,” where Goodreads allows the humble scribe to toot their own horn.
Well, I am not going to toot so much as summarize the points I believe make Bane of All Things distinct – drawn mostly from what other, wiser, people have told me. (No big spoilers.)
When publishers are getting ready to launch a new novel, they will often work with a document called a tip sheet. This is a sales tool used to woo the buyers for bookstores and libraries. Here are some of the selling points for BoAT that are contained in its tip sheet:
Epic fantasy with a 17th century flavor: Bane of All Things is also a gunpowder fantasy, with threads of Brian McClellan’s Powder Mage trilogy by way of Andrzej Sapkowski’s The Witcher series. You might even say it's the kind of setting where Robert E. Howard's steadfast Solomon Kane and Alexandre Dumas's swashbuckling musketeers would feel at home.
A story driven by deep personal conflict: Bane of All Things explores the theme of conscience versus loyalty through two contrasting characters. Lieutenant Ryn Ruscroft is a man scarred by his actions as a dutiful officer who can no longer in good conscience honor his oath to a corrupt church. Captain Segas Tovald knows too well the flaws of that same church, yet choses to remain loyal.
Strong female characters: Bane of All Things' primary female protagonist is Josalind Aumbrae—a strong young woman with agency who is complex, brave, ambitious, and ultimately kind. She demonstrates that strong female characters can exist in epic fantasy without falling into the stereotypes of the warrior princess or the damsel in distress. But that’s not to say she isn’t in distress, or that she wouldn’t arm herself if the need arose …
Vivid world-building that’s more than ankle deep: The characters have agendas and motives that often clash. Locations are richly rendered and have the lived-in feel of real, historic places. Power struggles between factions are messy and complicated, as power struggles always are. The mythology and the pantheon of gods are both complex and capable of being interpreted in different ways that can breed conflict, as we so often see in our own world. However, having said all that, the story has a tight focus that keeps the page count reasonable (well, depending on your definition of “reasonable” for epic fantasy).
There you go. I hope you found this helpful. Bane of All Things releases Dec. 07 and is available now for advance reviews on NetGalley.
Thank you and keep reading!
Cheers
Leo
#BaneofAllThings #NetGalley
Howdy. So, yes, this is one of those “Reviews from the Author,” where Goodreads allows the humble scribe to toot their own horn.
Well, I am not going to toot so much as summarize the points I believe make Bane of All Things distinct – drawn mostly from what other, wiser, people have told me. (No big spoilers.)
When publishers are getting ready to launch a new novel, they will often work with a document called a tip sheet. This is a sales tool used to woo the buyers for bookstores and libraries. Here are some of the selling points for BoAT that are contained in its tip sheet:
Epic fantasy with a 17th century flavor: Bane of All Things is also a gunpowder fantasy, with threads of Brian McClellan’s Powder Mage trilogy by way of Andrzej Sapkowski’s The Witcher series. You might even say it's the kind of setting where Robert E. Howard's steadfast Solomon Kane and Alexandre Dumas's swashbuckling musketeers would feel at home.
A story driven by deep personal conflict: Bane of All Things explores the theme of conscience versus loyalty through two contrasting characters. Lieutenant Ryn Ruscroft is a man scarred by his actions as a dutiful officer who can no longer in good conscience honor his oath to a corrupt church. Captain Segas Tovald knows too well the flaws of that same church, yet choses to remain loyal.
Strong female characters: Bane of All Things' primary female protagonist is Josalind Aumbrae—a strong young woman with agency who is complex, brave, ambitious, and ultimately kind. She demonstrates that strong female characters can exist in epic fantasy without falling into the stereotypes of the warrior princess or the damsel in distress. But that’s not to say she isn’t in distress, or that she wouldn’t arm herself if the need arose …
Vivid world-building that’s more than ankle deep: The characters have agendas and motives that often clash. Locations are richly rendered and have the lived-in feel of real, historic places. Power struggles between factions are messy and complicated, as power struggles always are. The mythology and the pantheon of gods are both complex and capable of being interpreted in different ways that can breed conflict, as we so often see in our own world. However, having said all that, the story has a tight focus that keeps the page count reasonable (well, depending on your definition of “reasonable” for epic fantasy).
There you go. I hope you found this helpful. Bane of All Things releases Dec. 07 and is available now for advance reviews on NetGalley.
Thank you and keep reading!
Cheers
Leo
#BaneofAllThings #NetGalley
November 7, 2021
The Bane of All Things by Leo Valiquette 3.5 stars
I received an eARC copy of this book via NetGalley.
Video review (available 12/03/21): https://youtu.be/VtG7Hfz_8XY
Bane of All Things opens with a strong premise: many years after a war of gods and men destroyed countless lives and caused the founding of a new "religion" founded on the core belief that the gods were dead, forces work to both raise Xang, son of the Great Deceiver, and opposing forces to stop him. Our two main characters Ryn and Josalind find themselves unwittingly tangled in events much bigger than themselves.
This book feels like it is preparing to set up a very epic series and a lot of interesting history is presented early on. Unfortunately this does start to feel too much like random "info dumps" as we continue and get passages coming from a seer that don't seem to relate a whole lot to the story (and at no point in the first book, at least, is the source of these passages explained). Despite the info dumps, the history really is interesting and is used to start to take the fairly basic premise of mortals involved in the greater struggles of Gods and demigods into something a bit more unique. The Clerisy, a religious organization that for all intents and purposes runs the lands in the west, is another familiar trope in fantasy, but one that is given a different spin as the order is founded on Virtues and belief in Gods is considered heresy.
There are, however, quite a few things that most certainly were not unique and most certainly ring as heavily inspired by other books. The biggest example would be a certain sentient sword that is compelled to destroy evil (and use life around it to do so) which the reader can't help but immediately see as a version of Nightblood from Sanderson's Cosmere. The idea of an evil entity sealed away from the world as well brings thoughts of Jordan's Wheel of Time among many others. There's certainly nothing wrong with taking inspiration (or in this case heavy inspiration it would seem) from others (and by no means am I saying Valiquette copied anything), but it does put more onus on the author to then use some other unique, original elements to avoid the book becoming too familiar a story.
The uniqueness here definitely comes in the slowly growing cast of creatures we're exposed to. From grenlich to martichora to creatures of stone (and even a dragon!), Valiquette blends known fantasy creatures with unique ones very well to expand on the world and its inhabitants. These elements worked very well and hinted to much more that these various creatures may be involved in during the rest of the series. These along with our human characters are handled well, and the human characters (though leaning a bit too heavy in some cases on the found family and shared experiences tropes) form an interesting and complex group.
Overall the biggest thing that Bane of All Things show the reader is potential. There is quite a lot of action in this book and it is filled to the brim with as much plot as the author could fit into it. Honestly, it feels like a little too much was crammed in at some points, but overall it sets up a much bigger story to come. This book is very much still a set up book (despite having quite a lot more plot than most set up books) and the series has the potential to be great, though this book stays firmly in the "good, not great" realm for me.
This book is very solid and quite enjoyable, especially for a debut. I'll definitely be keeping an eye out to see where the author takes this series in the future.
I received an eARC copy of this book via NetGalley.
Video review (available 12/03/21): https://youtu.be/VtG7Hfz_8XY
Bane of All Things opens with a strong premise: many years after a war of gods and men destroyed countless lives and caused the founding of a new "religion" founded on the core belief that the gods were dead, forces work to both raise Xang, son of the Great Deceiver, and opposing forces to stop him. Our two main characters Ryn and Josalind find themselves unwittingly tangled in events much bigger than themselves.
This book feels like it is preparing to set up a very epic series and a lot of interesting history is presented early on. Unfortunately this does start to feel too much like random "info dumps" as we continue and get passages coming from a seer that don't seem to relate a whole lot to the story (and at no point in the first book, at least, is the source of these passages explained). Despite the info dumps, the history really is interesting and is used to start to take the fairly basic premise of mortals involved in the greater struggles of Gods and demigods into something a bit more unique. The Clerisy, a religious organization that for all intents and purposes runs the lands in the west, is another familiar trope in fantasy, but one that is given a different spin as the order is founded on Virtues and belief in Gods is considered heresy.
There are, however, quite a few things that most certainly were not unique and most certainly ring as heavily inspired by other books. The biggest example would be a certain sentient sword that is compelled to destroy evil (and use life around it to do so) which the reader can't help but immediately see as a version of Nightblood from Sanderson's Cosmere. The idea of an evil entity sealed away from the world as well brings thoughts of Jordan's Wheel of Time among many others. There's certainly nothing wrong with taking inspiration (or in this case heavy inspiration it would seem) from others (and by no means am I saying Valiquette copied anything), but it does put more onus on the author to then use some other unique, original elements to avoid the book becoming too familiar a story.
The uniqueness here definitely comes in the slowly growing cast of creatures we're exposed to. From grenlich to martichora to creatures of stone (and even a dragon!), Valiquette blends known fantasy creatures with unique ones very well to expand on the world and its inhabitants. These elements worked very well and hinted to much more that these various creatures may be involved in during the rest of the series. These along with our human characters are handled well, and the human characters (though leaning a bit too heavy in some cases on the found family and shared experiences tropes) form an interesting and complex group.
Overall the biggest thing that Bane of All Things show the reader is potential. There is quite a lot of action in this book and it is filled to the brim with as much plot as the author could fit into it. Honestly, it feels like a little too much was crammed in at some points, but overall it sets up a much bigger story to come. This book is very much still a set up book (despite having quite a lot more plot than most set up books) and the series has the potential to be great, though this book stays firmly in the "good, not great" realm for me.
This book is very solid and quite enjoyable, especially for a debut. I'll definitely be keeping an eye out to see where the author takes this series in the future.
March 11, 2022
This book has all the twist and turns that keeps wanting you to know what is next? I truly enjoyed the characters.
I cannot wait for the next book. There are more questions to be answered.
Great first book Leo.
I cannot wait for the next book. There are more questions to be answered.
Great first book Leo.
December 2, 2021
I was provided an advance copy by the author and publisher in exchange for an honest review.
I love “reluctant savior” stories! And Bane of All Things delivers—with two reluctant saviors whose challenges are as much “in their heads” as they are external. There’s lots of mystery—the glossary at the back of the novel gives some guidance—as you read to unfold Valiquette’s arcane, ancient history of this rich fantasy world’s people, creatures and humanoids woven around a living sword...one that has its own mind and plan. Enjoy this epic ride Valiquette has crafted when magic meets desire meets a dash of steampunk. I can’t wait for the sequel—The Crucible Tree.
I love “reluctant savior” stories! And Bane of All Things delivers—with two reluctant saviors whose challenges are as much “in their heads” as they are external. There’s lots of mystery—the glossary at the back of the novel gives some guidance—as you read to unfold Valiquette’s arcane, ancient history of this rich fantasy world’s people, creatures and humanoids woven around a living sword...one that has its own mind and plan. Enjoy this epic ride Valiquette has crafted when magic meets desire meets a dash of steampunk. I can’t wait for the sequel—The Crucible Tree.
October 13, 2021
Thank you to the publisher Inkshares for the copy of this book!
So, I enjoyed this book, and I"m intrigued to see where the story goes. Let's break it down.
Characters: I enjoyed the four main characters for who they were. I wish there was more character development, but since this is the first in a series, I'm intrigued to see where the surviving characters goes not just the four main characters. Ryn and Josalind fell in love very quickly, and I wish that had more of a build up to feel less insta lovey.
Atmosphere: I can get a sense of the world in this novel, but I need more world building.
Writing: The writing was fine. I didn't have much complaints about it.
Plot: I feel like the plot could've been tightened up. I almost wish this was a little longer to spend some time at each of the locations our characters visited.
Intrigue: I'm less intrigued after the ending of the first book, but that's mainly because I'm not the biggest fan of these kinds of endings with book series. I'm more intrigued by the religious aspect and the history of the different religions.
Logic: I felt the book stayed within its own logic fairly well. Some more explanation of the gods in Josalind's head would have been good.
Enjoyment: All in all I enjoyed this book for what it was. Ended up giving this a 4 star rating.
So, I enjoyed this book, and I"m intrigued to see where the story goes. Let's break it down.
Characters: I enjoyed the four main characters for who they were. I wish there was more character development, but since this is the first in a series, I'm intrigued to see where the surviving characters goes not just the four main characters. Ryn and Josalind fell in love very quickly, and I wish that had more of a build up to feel less insta lovey.
Atmosphere: I can get a sense of the world in this novel, but I need more world building.
Writing: The writing was fine. I didn't have much complaints about it.
Plot: I feel like the plot could've been tightened up. I almost wish this was a little longer to spend some time at each of the locations our characters visited.
Intrigue: I'm less intrigued after the ending of the first book, but that's mainly because I'm not the biggest fan of these kinds of endings with book series. I'm more intrigued by the religious aspect and the history of the different religions.
Logic: I felt the book stayed within its own logic fairly well. Some more explanation of the gods in Josalind's head would have been good.
Enjoyment: All in all I enjoyed this book for what it was. Ended up giving this a 4 star rating.
July 19, 2021
In Bane of All Things we are transported into the world of rich fantasy with male and female protagonists.
As the author said themselves, the female protagonist shows that good female characters can exist in fantasy. They're not just a plot driver (who knew??). Josalind is a properly fleshed out character.
I am a big fan of books and story's that explore authoritarianism and this absolutely lit my candle.
Thank you to both the publisher and NetGalley for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
As the author said themselves, the female protagonist shows that good female characters can exist in fantasy. They're not just a plot driver (who knew??). Josalind is a properly fleshed out character.
I am a big fan of books and story's that explore authoritarianism and this absolutely lit my candle.
Thank you to both the publisher and NetGalley for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
April 13, 2025
Edit: Beyond saddened to see this up and coming talent taken from the world too soon. Condolences to all held dear in his life.
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Thank you to Netgalley, and the publisher, for providing a free copy in exchange for an honest review.
Worldbuilding and lore is solid and deep.
Writing is incredible, I delighted in reading this.
I didn't find the story a slog to get through, but the religious aspects are a lot to take in, between what the Clerisy has lied about vs the truth of the world.
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Thank you to Netgalley, and the publisher, for providing a free copy in exchange for an honest review.
Worldbuilding and lore is solid and deep.
Writing is incredible, I delighted in reading this.
I didn't find the story a slog to get through, but the religious aspects are a lot to take in, between what the Clerisy has lied about vs the truth of the world.
October 22, 2021
A real great debut novel. A classical fantasy with magic swords, god like villains, dark magic and lots of adventure. The world building is very detailed, the characters well designed, and the danger escalating. The story is about a young soldier who decides to abandon his post in order to save a girl but also to save the world, by using a very dangerous weapon. The book is the first of a series and I can't wait to read the next one.
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August 11, 2021Two Stars
I want to start by thanking Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to read and review this book.
Based on the book blurb I had high hopes for this one, and unfortunately was let down.
An insufferable main character, bland cast, and generic story, there wasn't anything new offered, and the commentary on the books themes was surface level at best. Unfortunately, I was not the right reader for this book(however some of the issues go beyond my tastes). I didn't get what I was expecting based on the blurb.
I'll start by saying that there were quite a few elements of this book that were definitely not to my taste as a fantasy reader. So in some part my enjoyment was impacted by that, and I will try to keep my critique isolated to the things that I feel were simply done poorly in terms of storytelling rather than “I just personally don't like X”. So I do want to start with a section recommending this book to readers whose taste may lean towards what is offered here.
Readers who might enjoy Bane of All Things are those who are wanting that classic fantasy story with modern fantasy writing. This story very much falls into the good vs. evil plots (dark lords, legions of evil returning) that was a staple in classic fantasy. Valiquette's voice is decidedly modern, told in third person limited. So you get the world ending plot, with the intimate character POV. Also readers who like a lot of fantasy creatures and races will find those in this book. You're not just stuck with humans, and non-human encounters are frequent throughout the story. Finally readers who like getting details about the lore of the world will be pleased with the detailed history and religion that has been crafted here.
So now I do need to get into my criticisms, of which unfortunately there are many. I want to emphasize how much I wanted to like this book.
The characters – I didn't connect with any of the characters. I wouldn't say that any were bad per se(except one). But they were fairy shallow and fit into very familiar fantasy stereotypes.
Josalind – the female main, and the most interesting character(this book would have been better told from her POV). She could have been so much more, but she is sidelined so often, because the story focuses on Ryn, and when Ryn is focused on Josalind he is thinking about how much he wants her. Her madness and internal struggled aren't examined really at all. I probably would have cared for her more if her POV's weren't so sparse and her character wasn't filtered through Ryn.
Ryn – If this review hasn't tipped you off already Ryn was my biggest problem in this book, and that's because it's 90% from his POV.
First his crisis of faith and PTSD is depicted on a very surface level. He learns the church had lied in some big ways pretty early on, and the way the book builds on this is him thinking “another of the clerisys lies” as he encounters things throughout the plot. Similarly, the depiction of PTSD from a battle in his past is simply just written as “just like Sablewood”. These ideas weren't really built upon, but rather repeated.
Second, he becomes instantly infatuated with Josalind, and it only get worse throughout the book. I don't want to dig to much into this point but it is a long tired cliche in fantasy and was not my favorite to read yet again(it also wasn't executed well).
The foreshadowing was more than heavy-handed. Nothing came as a surprise in this book, reveals that were meant to carry weight were hinted at so obviously, that by the time the reveal does come it's old news. Nothing caught be by surprise, and that was in part due to this issue. Also the book was predictable. There wasn't anything to really make it stand out from many others following similar plots/tropes.
Finally the plot was repetitive. Once the stakes are established(pretty early on) they don't change, and after that the characters just cycle through events(escape/capture etc.) with the stakes remaining the same. The stakes escalated too quickly at the beginning then stagnated, and because of that I never had any concern that the protagonists might fail.
This part of the blurb was what got my attention “In the Four Kingdoms, the Holy Clerisy preaches that the gods are dead, and prayer is the path to Hell. Anyone who defies doctrine is punished for heresy. But blind faith can damn a soul as surely as betrayal.”
Based on that description I was expecting a much fresher take on religion in fantasy, and a critique at churches interpretation of divine doctrine. What I got was far more generic, with a critique that did not delve deeper than the idea that “the church lies”, and church leaders = bad. Pretty early on our MC Ryn learns that the church he has devoted his life to has lied about some pretty major things(religion wise). Not only is he immediately okay with abandoning the church, the rest of the book the greatest depth of thought we get from him on the matter is “another of the clerisy's lies” or “another thing the clerisy lied about.” That's it. No crisis of faith or examination of why major religions mislead their own followers. Just, church lies, and church leaders = bad. I hate to be so harsh but this is the area where the book really let me down. Some of that is my own expectations, and some is just underdeveloped ideas in the book.
I hate to be so harsh, but this one did not work for me. I will have a review on my Youtube channel(which will be released closer to the release date for the book). I will also do a spoiler review if there is demand for it(after the book has been out for 6 weeks).
June 29, 2022
I am a huge fan of Stephen King, Lee Childs, Tom Clancy, James Patterson and now Leo Valiquette. This book is excellent, it captivated you in the first chapter. The characters are real, human and create an instant empathy. I could not put the book down. This rivals Lord of the Rings in it’s detail and story telling. Loved it. This will make a great movie. Bring on more, congratulations on a book well written. Guarantee that folks will name their sons Ryn.
July 22, 2022
This is the first fantasy novel I have ever read, and it has persuaded me that this is a genre that I should explore. This novel is extremely well written. I enjoyed the evolution of the plot and the fascinating character development. The scenes depicted in the novel were conveyed so well that I often imagined that I was watching them on a big screen. I cannot wait to read the next novel in this series.
June 18, 2022
I am rating this book a 3.5. Thank you Inkshares and Goodreads for a free copy.
This was a well written fully fleshed out fantasy epic. A very good book for a debut. It doesn't do anything earth shattering but it does a lot of interesting world building. I am certainty intrigued enough to be interested in in reading the second book.
This was a well written fully fleshed out fantasy epic. A very good book for a debut. It doesn't do anything earth shattering but it does a lot of interesting world building. I am certainty intrigued enough to be interested in in reading the second book.
March 14, 2022
This was a really fun fantsy book, loved
September 16, 2022
I was sad when this book was over so I am reading it again.
Please write a sequel.
Please write a sequel.
November 30, 2022
Fantastic read! Can't wait for more!!!!
December 11, 2022
To me a book is good if I want to keep reading and I don't want to put it down. That is the way I felt about this book.
February 20, 2022
My exposure to the genre of fantasy has been limited largely to films or TV shows such as Lord of the Rings , Merlin or Game of Thrones. I therefore had only a general sense of what to expect when I cracked open BOAT.
From the outset, I found this a fascinating read. The development of the
" world " in which the story unfolds is itself imaginative and highly detailed, right down to the names of people and places. ( the glossary provided by the author is very helpful ). This is a complex and entertaining journey by what another reviewer has cleverly described as two " reluctant saviors " . Their world is one of religious fanaticism, conflicting loyalties, difficult friendships, bizarre creatures and the supernatural. Their journey is presented by the author in a way that holds your attention, and that keeps you guessing by times as the plot takes various twists and turns. I looked forward to each succeeding chapter. The story line builds very nicely toward a Part Two and I am most definitely looking forward to that!
Well done Mr. Valiquette!
From the outset, I found this a fascinating read. The development of the
" world " in which the story unfolds is itself imaginative and highly detailed, right down to the names of people and places. ( the glossary provided by the author is very helpful ). This is a complex and entertaining journey by what another reviewer has cleverly described as two " reluctant saviors " . Their world is one of religious fanaticism, conflicting loyalties, difficult friendships, bizarre creatures and the supernatural. Their journey is presented by the author in a way that holds your attention, and that keeps you guessing by times as the plot takes various twists and turns. I looked forward to each succeeding chapter. The story line builds very nicely toward a Part Two and I am most definitely looking forward to that!
Well done Mr. Valiquette!
December 11, 2021
I was given a free copy of Bane of All Things by Leo Valiquette (author), Inkshares (publisher), and Net Galley to read and provide an honest review.
I would characterize Bane of All Things to be a flintlock epic fantasy.
This review will be spoiler free.
The story takes place in a setting like pre-industrialize Europe. Muskets, griffins, a sentient sword, and dragons are featured which comprise an interesting combination. Besides the muskets, griffins, and dragons, the setting is a version of what I have seen before in epic fantasy, but it does serve the story.
Magic is an important part of the story. It appears that a few characters, including the two main characters, can use magic because long-dead gods are using them as vessels or instruments. I think the antagonists are representatives of the church because they are pursuing people who may have been identified that could use magic.
Bane of All Things has two main characters: a young woman who has been identified as a witch and a disgraced military officer for the church. At the beginning of the story, they are being transported on a ship to an island. The woman is taken to the abbey which is protected by church military personnel including the disgraced officer. For the officer, the island is his last opportunity to make things right.
I could not connect with the main characters because each of them appeared to be one-dimensional and not interesting. I think that each of the main characters acted the same from the beginning through the end of the story. There are two significant minor characters, who travel with the main characters on their quest, that I thought were interesting and would have liked to see them feature more in the story. The minor characters are a woman and man, who are both in their sixties, and serves as foils for the main characters. The woman can use magic and heal others and the man is her guardian and uses a magic sword.
The biggest issue I had with novel is the story. I found it difficult to get into the beginning of the story because there are info dumps and I do not like reading them. I enjoyed, though, the part of the story that takes place on the island and learn a little bit of the main characters. I was intrigued with the relationship developing between the disgraced military officer and his commanding officer on the island and the relationship between woman and the abbess while the main characters were still on the island. I think I would have preferred if the entire story took place on the island and expand on the plot points that are featured in the part of the story.
After the main characters leave the island, I became less interested due to characters traveling from one locale to the next and I thought the story meandered and bogged down in the middle. When the characters are in a new locale, there are more info dumps and I started to skim the story.
The story meandering, info dumps, and not able to connect with the main characters impacted my enjoyment of the story.
I rate Bane of All Things 2.5 stars.
I would like to thank Mr. Valiquette, Inkshares, and Net Galley for the free E-ARC
I would characterize Bane of All Things to be a flintlock epic fantasy.
This review will be spoiler free.
The story takes place in a setting like pre-industrialize Europe. Muskets, griffins, a sentient sword, and dragons are featured which comprise an interesting combination. Besides the muskets, griffins, and dragons, the setting is a version of what I have seen before in epic fantasy, but it does serve the story.
Magic is an important part of the story. It appears that a few characters, including the two main characters, can use magic because long-dead gods are using them as vessels or instruments. I think the antagonists are representatives of the church because they are pursuing people who may have been identified that could use magic.
Bane of All Things has two main characters: a young woman who has been identified as a witch and a disgraced military officer for the church. At the beginning of the story, they are being transported on a ship to an island. The woman is taken to the abbey which is protected by church military personnel including the disgraced officer. For the officer, the island is his last opportunity to make things right.
I could not connect with the main characters because each of them appeared to be one-dimensional and not interesting. I think that each of the main characters acted the same from the beginning through the end of the story. There are two significant minor characters, who travel with the main characters on their quest, that I thought were interesting and would have liked to see them feature more in the story. The minor characters are a woman and man, who are both in their sixties, and serves as foils for the main characters. The woman can use magic and heal others and the man is her guardian and uses a magic sword.
The biggest issue I had with novel is the story. I found it difficult to get into the beginning of the story because there are info dumps and I do not like reading them. I enjoyed, though, the part of the story that takes place on the island and learn a little bit of the main characters. I was intrigued with the relationship developing between the disgraced military officer and his commanding officer on the island and the relationship between woman and the abbess while the main characters were still on the island. I think I would have preferred if the entire story took place on the island and expand on the plot points that are featured in the part of the story.
After the main characters leave the island, I became less interested due to characters traveling from one locale to the next and I thought the story meandered and bogged down in the middle. When the characters are in a new locale, there are more info dumps and I started to skim the story.
The story meandering, info dumps, and not able to connect with the main characters impacted my enjoyment of the story.
I rate Bane of All Things 2.5 stars.
I would like to thank Mr. Valiquette, Inkshares, and Net Galley for the free E-ARC
July 23, 2023
A very good debut novel with all the trappings of an interesting, modern fantasy with imperfect characters trying to save the world. There are gods, religion, sorcery, demons, a willful sword and more. While it wasn't a can't-put-down kind of book, the story was interesting and I found myself curious to know what would happen next. The writing was well executed and the plot was strong. There are some characters I'd like to learn more about and I really wonder what role they may play in future. I was a bit fuzzy on some things, which may have been on purpose. I'm curious to see what the sequel brings.
October 3, 2021
I was intrigued by the book blurb, but this book just didn’t do it for me. It took some time before the story got at least a little bit interesting and the in between chapters that explained the background slowed the story further down. I did like the character of Josalind, but the other main character Ryn not so much. All in all the premise was promising, but it just didn’t deliver in the end.
I got this arc in exchange for a honest review.
I got this arc in exchange for a honest review.
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